Back on Track

Oh yes, I had the surgery 24 years ago when it was still in the experimental stages, and I had no follow up counseling whatsoever. My dad died the day I got out of the hospital, and for years I blamed myself for being selfish, doing that for my vanity and not spending those last days with him. I lost around 100 pounds, but as the years went by, it seemed like I punished myself by eating things I knew I shouldn't, and steadily gained that weight, plus more, back. I finally realized that my dad would never want me to treat myself like that, though, and I got a grip so to speak. I have two beautiful sons and a wonderful husband to whom I am dedicated, and I asked myself what in the world would they do without me. I also came to realize my worth as a person! That gave me the motivation to start taking better care of myself - that plus the fact that I wasn't getting any younger, and I had wasted enough of my life with bad eating habits. All the food in the world isn't worth giving up my family. So I started this program, plus a carb counting program my nutritionist came up with for me, in addition to portion control, and it is working. Since February I have lost 43 pounds. I have a long way to go (another 150), but I have brought my AC1 down to 6, my blood glucose is below 130 (fasting), and I feel better than I have for 2 or 3 years. I know some would say that the weight is coming off slowly, but I have lost and gained back probably over 2000 pounds in my lifetime. If I can lose it slowly and keep if off, that is the way for me, I think. At times, I still struggle with the shame of having such drastic surgery to lose weight and failing at it, but that is what makes us human - failing and trying yet again. So if you have done this, don't beat yourself up. Get back up, dust yourself off, and keep on keepin' on. It's truly all one can do. What's done is done, we cannot go back and change anything, no matter how hard we wish we could. We just have to let go of it, and free ourselves of that burden. Sorry for such a long post, but it comes from my heart. Peace & Love.

Never had gastric bypass but just wanted to welcome you to the forums!